Brickmaking mechanism.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

S. M. BLACK. BRIGKMAKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED In 5. 100B.

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PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. s. M, BLACK. BRIGKMAKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IFAY 5. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRICKMAKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed May 5,1906. Serial No. 315,330-

.7o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY M. BLACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Brickmaking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to brick-making machines and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive machine of this character by means of which artificial stone bricks or blocks may be conveniently and expeditiously manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine having a plurality of pivoted mold sections movable to operative and inoperative position through the medium of a foot-actuated lever, and further to provide the several mold sections with detachable die plates whereby the exposed faces of the bricks or blocks may be molded to represent cut or chipped stone.

A further object is to provide a tamping element one end of which is pivotally mounted on the frame and the opposite end thereof provided with a depending plunger adapted to enter the mold and produce a mortar-receiving pocket in the top of the brick.

A further object is to provide means for limiting the downward movement of the plunger and means for feeding the cement to the mold.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a brick molding machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the pivoted mold sections in open or inoperative position to permit the removal of the molded product. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mold supporting bracket detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear wall of the mold detached. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the front wall of the mold. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the side walls of the mold, and, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the detachable die plates.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved machine comprises a supporting frame preferably formed of angle iron, as shown, and consisting of spaced uprights 5 and 6 connected by cross-beams 7 and 8 and diagonalbraces 9. The diagonal braces 9 are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper cross-beams 10 which serve to support the bedplate 11 and upon which is mounted for sliding movement a hopper or receptacle 12 adapted to contain the concrete, cement or other plastic material, said hopper being mounted for sliding movement between parallel guides 12 and 13 secured in any suitable manner to the bed-plate as shown.

Mounted on the front of the machine is a mold supporting bracket 14 provided with spaced angular extensions or lugs 15 and 16 upon which are pivotally mounted for swinging movement the end walls 17 and the front wall 18 of the mold. The rear wall 19 of the mold is rigidly secured to the supporting bracket by means of bolts 20 engaging suitable apertures 21 formed in the adjacent face of the supporting bracket, said bolts also engaging diagonal braces 22 extending between the brackets and secured to the adjacent uprights of the frame and which serve to support the bracket rigidly at the front of the frame.

The pivoted side and end walls of the mold are formed with spaced arms or extensions 23 having openings 24 formed in thefree ends thereof for the reception of a pivot-pin or bolt 25 which also engages alined openings 26 formed in the extensions or lugs 15 and 16 of the mold supporting bracket. It will thus be seen that the front and side walls of the mold are free to swing laterally to operative and inoperative position, each pivoted section being formed withaplate 27 which when the sections are in assembled position serve to forma table for the reception of thehopper orreceptacle 12. The rear wall 19 of the mold is also provided with a plate 28 preferably disposed in alinement with the bed-plate 11 and forming in effect a continuation of the Walls of said bed plate so as to permit free sliding movement of the hopper or receptacle when the latter is moved to operative position over the mold.

The several pivoted mold sections are each provided with a detachable die plate 29 whereby the exposed face or faces of the brick or block may be molded in imitation of cut or chipped stone. The die-plates 29 are provided with laterally extended perforated lugs 30 which fit between the spaced arms 23 of the several mold sections and register with similar perforations 31 formed in the arms 21 to permit the passage of a clamping bolt or similar fastening device 32.

As a means for moving the several mold sections to operative and inoperative positions there is provided a curved bar or yoke 33 pivotally mounted, at 34 for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the uprights 5, said yoke being provided with an extension or arm 36 to the free end of which is secured one end of a coiled spring 37 the opposite end of which is connected through the medium of a link 38 to the cross-bar 7. The link 38 is provided with a terminal hook 39 adapted to engage one of a series of openings 40 formed in the cross-bar 7 whereby the spring may be centered with respect to the arm or extension 38. The spring 37 normally exerts a downward pressure on the arm 36 and consequently forces the yoke or curved bar 33 in engagement with the pivoted mold sections thus supporting the several mold sections in assembled or operative position.

Secured to the yoke 33 is one end of a rod 41 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a footoperated lever 42 pivoted at 43 to one of the rear standards 6, said lever being provided with a foot-piece 44 by means of which the lever may be depressed so as to lower the yoke 33 and thus permit the several mold sections to be swung downwardly and laterally to open position, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Pivotally mounted at 45 on the angular bars 1.0 are a pair of curved arms 46 the free ends of which converge towards the front of the machine and are spaced apart for the reception of a bar 47 provided with a terminal operating loop or handle 48. The bar 47 carrying the handle 48 is pivotally mounted between the converging ends of the arms 46 by means of a bolt 49 and secured to said bar at a point adjacent the handle 48 are a pair of spaced plates 50 constituting a tamping element. The tamping element 50 is formed with a terminal plate 51 having a lug or projection 52 secured to the bottom thereof for forming a mortar-receiving groove or recess 53 in the molded brick or block 54, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

As a means for limiting the downward movement of the tamping element there is provided a gage-bar 55 one end of which is bolted at 56 to the adjacent pivoted arm 46 While the free end thereof extends in the path of movement of the stationary mold-section 28.

It will thus be seen that by releasing the bolt 49 and adjusting the bar 47 vertically with respect to the arms 46 and subsequently tightening said bolt the thickness of the brick or block may be regulated at will, the gagebar 55 by engagement with the plate 28 serving to limit the downward movement of the tamping element within the mold chamber.

Secured to the inner end of the bar 47 is a coiled spring 58 the opposite end of which is fastened to an upright or standard 59 secured in any suitable manner to the supporting frame at the rear end thereof, said springs serving to hold the tamping element normally in elevated or inoperative position.

The sliding hopper or receptacle 12 is provided with a feed aperture 60 adapted to register with the mold-chamber when said hopper is moved to a position above the chamber so as to permit the cement, concrete, or other plastic material within the hopper to be conveniently fed to said molding chamber. Secured to the rear wall of the hopper is an arm or extension 61 adapted to engage the upright 59 and limit the rearward movement of said hopper.

The operation of the device is as follows: Under normal conditions the pivoted mold-sections are in assembled or operative position and the tamping element elevated above the feed-hopper. When it is desired to mold the brick or block the hopper 12 is moved longitudinally of the frame to a position above the molding chamber thus permitting the cement, concrete or other material to flow through the feed opening into said molding chamber. The hopper 12 is then withdrawn until the arm 61 engages the stop 59 after which the tamping element is depressed by operating the handle 48 thus tamping the cement within the mold and forming a brick or block having a mortar-receiving recess or depression in its upper face, as shown in Fig. 3. The lever 42 is then depressed with the foot thus moving the yoke or bar downwardly against the tension of the spring 37 and permitting the movable sections of the mold to be swung laterally to inoperative position thereby permitting the molded product to be readily removed from the mold and carried on the pallet 62 to the drying racks until sufliciently hard for use. When it is desired to make bricks or blocks having smooth exterior walls the corrugated die members or plates are detached and other die-plates having smooth or plain faces substituted.

While the machine is principally designed for manufacturing bricks the same may be used with equally good results for making artificial stone building blocks and if desired the bricks or blocks may be formed with vertically disposed air-flues or chambers so that when the bricks or blocks are laid into a wall the latter will be provided with a vertical air-space.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a plurality of laterally movable mold-sections, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame for moving the mold-sections to operative and inoperative positions, and a spring connected with one end of said yoke for normally and yieldably holding the yoke in operative position.

2. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted on the frame, and pro vided with terminal plates adapted to form a table when said mold sections are in closed position, means for moving the mold-sectionsto operative and inoperative positions, means for feeding material to the mold, and a tamping element pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame and adapted to enter the mold.

3. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a plurality of laterally movable mold-sections, means for moving the mold-sections to operative and inoperative positions, a tamping element pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame and adapted to enter the mold, means for yieldably supporting the tamping element in elevated position, and a plate provided with a depending lug for forming a mortai receiving groove in the upper surface of the block.

4. In a briclcmaking machine, a frame, a plurality of laterally movable mold-sections associated with the frame, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame for moving the mold-sections to operative and inoperative positions, a tamping element pivotally mounted for swinging movement above the mold and adapted to enter the latter, means for limiting the downward movement of the tamping element, and means for normally and yieldably supporting the yoke in engagement with the mold section's.

5. In a brickmaking machine, a frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement on the frame, a hopper slidably mounted on the frame and movable to operative position above the mold, a pivoted yoke for moving the moldsections to operative and inoperative positions, a foot-operating lever, a pivotal connection between one end of the yoke and foot-operating lever, a spring connecting the frame and the opposite ends of said yoke for normally and yieldably holding the yoke in engagement with the mold sections, and a tamping element pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame and adapted to enter the mold.

6. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, a plurality of movable mold sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement on the bracket and provided with terminal plates adapted to form a table when the lower sections are in closed position, dieplates detachably secured to the mold-sections, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage the mold-sections for moving the latter to operative and inoperative position, a foot-operating lever associated with the yoke for actuating the lever, and a tamping element pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame and adapted to enter the mold.

7. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted on the frame, means for moving the mold-sections to operative and inoperative positions, a tamping element pivoted to the frame and adapted tamping element and adapted to engage the frame for limiting the downward movement of the latter, and a spring operatively connected with the tamping element for normally and yieldably supporting said element in elevated position.

8. A frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame, means for moving the mold-sections to operative and inoperative positions, arms pivotally mounted on the frame, a bar pivotally mounted between the arms and provided with a depending tamping element adapted to enter the mold, means for locking the bar in adjusted position, a depending gage carried by the bar, and a spring connecting the adjacent end of the bar with the frame for normally holding the tamping element in elevated position. v

9. In a briclemaking machine, a frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement on the frame, a yoke for moving the mold-section to operative and inoperative positions, arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame, a bar pivotally mounted between the arms and having its free end provided with an operating handle, a tamping element depending from the bar at a point adjacent the handle and adapted to enter the mold, a standard secured to the frame, a spring one end of which is connected to the adjacent end of the bar and the opposite end thereof to the standard for normally supporting the tamping element in elevated position, and means for limiting the downward movement of the tamping element.

10. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a supporting bracket secured to the frame and provided with spaced laterally extending lugs, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted on the frame and provided with spaced arms adapted to engage the lugs, said mold sections being provided with terminal plates adapted to form a table when said sections are in closed position a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame for moving the mold sections to to enter the mold, a gage-bar carried by the operative and inoperative positions, an arm carried by the yoke, a spring one end of which is secured to the frame and the opposite end thereof operatively connected with the arm, a foot-operating lever, and a pivotal connection between the foot-operating lever and the yoke.

11. -In a brick-making machine, a frame, a bracket secured to the frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement on the bracket and provided with terminal plates adapted to form a table when the sections are in closed position, and means for moving the sections to operative and inoperative position.

12. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a bracket supported on the frame and provided with laterally extended perforated lugs, a plurality of molclsections pivotally mounted on the bracket and provided with spaced arms adapted to engage the perforated lugs, plates carried by the mold-sections and adapted to form a table when said mold-sections are moved to closed position, a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame, a spring for normally holding the yoke in engagement with the mold-sections, a footoperating lever, a pivotal connection between the yoke and foot-operating lever, and a tamping element associated with the frame and adapted to enter the mold.

13. In a brick-making machine, a frame, a bracket supported on the frame, a rear mold-section rigidly secured to the bracket and frame respectively, movable front and side walls pivotally mounted on the bracket, a yoke pivoted to the frame for moving the moldsections to operative and inoperative position, and a tamping element associated with the frame and adapted to enter the mold.

14. In a briclemaking machine, a frame formed of angleiron, a bracket supported by the frame, braces connecting the bracket to the frame, a plurality of mold-sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement on the bracket and provided with terminal plates adapted to form a table when the mold sections are moved to closed position, a yoke pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane and adapted to engage the pivoted sections for moving the latter to operative and inoperative position, a foot-operating lever, a pivotal connection between the yoke and footoperating lever, a hopper slidably SIDNEY M. BLACK; Witnesses:

JAMES COTIER,

WM. FELKER. 

